Electric-switch-operating mechanism.



A. B. ALLEN. ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15, 1911.

1,029,250, Patented June 11, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' f/VVENIOR' COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. C.

A. B. ALLEN. ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM:

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16, 1911.

Patented June 11, 1912.

WITNESSES Attorney COLUMBIA PLANDURAPH C0" WASHINGTON, D- C- A. B. ALLEN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED .TUNElfi, 1911.

1,029,250, Patnted June 11,1912.

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f m a ROI/q I 48 \E a I a Q33 I I8 I l WITNESSES [NVENTOR I e n I I i s ANT or AARON BURR ALLEN, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO ALLEN SWITCH COMPANY, OF PUEBLO, COLORADO.

ELECTRIC-SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Applicationfiled June 15, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON BURR ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric-Switch- Operating Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism and more particularly to electric switch operating mechanism.

An object of the invention is to provide an electric switch which will be automatically operated as the car approaches the same.

Another object is to provide an automatic electrical switch which will be positive in its operation.

Another object is to provide a switch of the above stated character, adapted to be operated by the electric current from the trolley wire, and one which will not be damaged by an overcharge.

Another object is to provide a switch of this nature provided with a pole box having suitable fuses, etc, to prevent overloading of magnet in switch box, and, another object is to provide a switch of this character which may be operated at the will of the motorman.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are made a part of this application, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, the front of the shunt box being removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the switch box. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view through the switch box, taken on the line 4l4: of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the upper portion of the magnet pole in the switch box, the swinging lug pivoted thereto and the rocker operated by the swinging lug being shown in position. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1912.

Serial No. 633,254.

head or rocker, and, Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the swinging lug.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a current or trolley wire, over which is held in spaced relation the end of the current Wire, the end being turned, as shown at 3, and insulated from the trolley wire by suitable insulation 4. The current return wire 2 leads to the shunting coil 5 within the pole box and is connected with one end of said coil, while connected to the other end is the short wire 6, to the lower end of which is connected the contact 7. To the contact 7 is also connected one end of the wire 8, which has its opposite end connected to the fuse 9 and leading from this fuse is the conducting wire-10, which is inclosed in the pipe 11, beneath the ground, said pipe 11 having one end connected to the switch box 12. After passing through the pipe 11 the wire 10 is connected to the magnet 13 within the box 12. Connected with the other end of the coil is the wire 14;, which also passes through the pipe 11 and is secured to the fuse 15 within the pole boX, said fuse 15 being preferably positioned opposite the fuse 9. Leading from the fuse 15 is the current carrying wire 16, which connects with the main or trolley wire 1 to allow the passage of the current along this wire to the pole and switch boxes. Connected to the wire 16 adjacent the end of the fuse 15 is the wire 17 having the contact 18 upon its depending end, said contact 18 being opposite the contact 7, a short distance below the coil 5.

l/Vithin the center of the coil 5 is the core 19, carrying the contacting plate 20 upon its lower end, said contacting plate being of such form as to normally rest below the contact points 7 and 18 and to connect the charging the fuses 15 and 9 and the mechnism within the switch box 12.

It will be noted that the switch box 12 is widened above the coil 13, forming the shoulders 21, upon which shoulders rests the plate 22, said plate being secured in position by bolts or other suitable means 23. The plate is provided with a suitable aperture in threaded engagement with which is the upper end of the brass tube or cup 24. Within this cup 24 is the magnet pole 25 resiliently held at the upper end of the cup 24, by means of the coiled spring 26, surrounding the smaller portion of the magnet pole and engaged against the larger portion thereof. The magnet pole 25 is of such length to allow the vertical movement thereof in the cup 24 of about two inches. The central portion of the plate 22 is thickened, as shown at 27, and through this thickened portion 27 is a vertical opening somewhat smaller than the threaded opening with which the cup 24 is engaged and opens cen- .trally of this last mentioned opening.

Through the smaller opening projects the upwardly extending portion 28 of the magnet pole 25 and pivoted to one face of this upper portion 28 is the swinging lug 29. It will be understood that the lower portion and the central large portion of the magnet pole are circular in form, while the upwardly extending portion 28 has fiat sides, said portion being either square or oblong in cross section. This is to. allow the swinging lug to rest closely against one side of the extended portion 28 and to facilitate the more ready operation of the adjacent parts tobe later described. It will be seen that the large portion of the magnet pole 25 presses against the thickened portion 27 of the plate 22, around the small opening in said thickened portion when the magnet pole is in its uppermost position.

Secured through a horizontal aperture through the thickened portion 27 and communicating with the outer edge thereof and the small central opening and also secured through a perforated ear 22, extending upwardly from the outer edge of the plate 22, is the lower horizontal shaft 30. Upon the inner end of the shaft 30 is the rocking head 31, which is rigid with said shaft near the center of its lower edge and has the upwardly extending portion 32, from which projects at right angles the hood 33, which engages over the upper edge of the swinging lug 29. Projecting toward the upwardly extending portion 28 of the magnet pole 25 and parallel to one another, are the pins or rollers 34, which have their ends secured in the lower corners of the head 31. These rollers are engaged at times by the lower curved edges 35 of the swinging lug, said curved edges extending from the point 36 of the lug near the center of the side edges. of said lug, as shown at 37. The shaft 30 is preferably positioned longitudinally of the upper enlarged portion of the switch box 12, and upon the outer end of this shaft is mounted the upwardly extending arm 38 carrying the crank pin 39.

Around the crank pin 39 is engaged the crank sleeve 40 carried upon the inner end of the reciprocating switch rod 41, which projects through suitable bushing and boxing 42 in one side of the box 12 and has connected to its outer right angularly turned extremity 43, the switch operating shoe 44, which fits under switch rail or on the bottom of switch'tongue, as will be readily understood. The switch box 12 is provided with a suitable cover 45 secured by bolts 46.

It will be understood that the various parts are properly insulated from one another, to prevent loss of current and to assist in the flow of the current along the proper wires, etc.

The operation is as follows: If the switch is to be thrown or changed, the motorman uses the current over the breaker. That is he has the current turned on at the motor, while the trolley wheel is passing the breaker. Thecurrent passes from the current of trolley wire 1 along the wire 16, through fuse 15, along wire 14 within the pipe 11 to magnet in switch box, thence along wire 10, through fuse 9, along wire 8, across contact point 7 and, by means of wire 6, to the shunting coil 5 and out from this coil along wire 2 back to the breaker passing over breaker 3 on trolley wire and down through the car to the ground. The coil 13 being energized the core is drawn downwardly. This causes the swinging lug 29 to operate against the proper pin or roller 34 and rock the rock shaft 30 in the proper direction to draw inwardly or press outwardly upon the switch operating rod 41, moving the shoe 44 connected with the switch to operate the latter as desired. Should the switch be properly set, however, the motorman runs over the breaker with current turned off, thus making it impossible for the operation just described to be performed by the electric current.

It will be noted that the shunt in the pole box controls the current, preventing the magnet in switch box from being overloaded and consequently, burned out. Should the current exceed, say twenty amperes it will energize the coil 5 in pole box, sufli ciently to pull up the core 19 and the contact plate 20 carried thereby, shortening the current and cross from contact point 18 to contact point 7, from which point it will pass through the shunt coil 5 and back to the breakers, as will be understood, thus protecting the fuses and the coil or magnet in switch box.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an electric switch operating mechanism which will be positive and effective in operation. It will also be seen that this mechanism is automatic in its operation and may be under the control of the motorman.

What I claim is:

1. A switch operating mechanism comprising a coil, a cup within said coil, a magnet pole within said cup, a casing for said parts to close and protect the latter, connections between said parts and a switch for operating the latter, connections between said coil and the electric current wire of a line, a fuse within said last mentioned connections, a shunting coil adjacent said fuse, a second fuse opposite said first fuse, electrical connections between the second fuse and the first coil, connections between the second fuse and the shunting coil, a broken electrical connection between the shunting coil and the electric current wire, a core carrying a contact plate, said core working within the shunting coil and adapted to be drawn upwardly thereby, a contact point in the connection between the first fuse and the electric current wire, a contact point in the connection between the second fuse and the shunting coil, said contact plate when drawn upwardly being adapted to connect said contact point and short circuit the current to protect the fuses and the first mentioned coil, and a pole box inclosing the fuses, shunting coil, core, contact plates and contact point.

2. An electric switch operating mechanism comprising a pole box containing a shunting coil, a core and contact plate carried and operated by said shunting coil, and contact points adapted to be engaged at times by said contact plate and fuses, a switch box containing a magnetizing coil, a cup within said coil and adapted to be magnetized thereby, a magnet pole movable within said cup, a plate within said switch box above the coil therein, said magnet pole projecting and operating through said plate, and switch throwing mechanism connected with and operated by the projecting portion of said magnet pole when the latter is caused to move within the cup, electrical connections between the magnetizing coil and the fuses within the pole box, a cover for said switch box, a positive electrical connection between one of the fuses and the current wire, one of the contact points within the pole box being connected with this positive electrical connection, an electrical connection between the other fuse and the shunting coil, the other contact point being carried by this first mentioned electrical connection, a breakable electrical connection between the shunting coil and the current wire to which the positive connection is secured, and breaking means between the breakable electrical connection and thev current wire for holding the breakable con nection normally broken.

3. A switch operating mechanism comprising a magnetizing coil within a switch box, a magnet pole within said coil, a plate within said box, said pole projecting and operating through said plate, means for resiliently holding said magnet pole in its upward position, said coil when energized be ing adapted to draw the pole downwardly, a swinging lug pivoted to the upper end of the pole above said plate, a rock shaft within said casing, a rock head carried on one end of said shaft, said head carrying rollers projecting therethrough to be operated by said swinging lug' to rock the shaft when the pole moves downwardly, said head having integral therewith a hood to engage the upper edge of the swinging lug and assist in guiding the latter, a reciprocating switch operating rod extending into said casing, connections between the rock shaft and the switch rod for operating the lat ter, a switch shoe carried by the switch rod, electrical connections between the coil and the current wire, a pole box positioned in.

the path of said electrical connections, fuses within said pole box, means within said pole box for protecting the fuses within said pole box and the energizing coil within said switch box from being overcharged and burned out, electrical connections be tween said pole box and the current wire, and means for holding said last mentioned connections normally broken.

4. A switch operating mechanism comprising a magnetizing coil within a switch box, a magnet pole within said coil, a plate within said box, said pole projecting and operating through said plate, means for resiliently holding said magnet pole in its upward position, said coil when energized being adapted to draw the pole down wardly, a swinging lug pivoted to the up per end of the pole above said plate, a rock shaft within said casing, a rock head carried on one end of said shaft, said head carrying rollers projecting therethrough to be operated by said swinging lug to rock the shaft when the pole moves downwardly, said head having integral therewith a hood to engage the upper edge of the swinging lug and assist in guiding the latter, a re ciprocating switch operating rod extending into said casing, a crank arm carried by said rock shaft, a crank pin projecting at right angles from said crank arm, a crank sleeve carried by said reciprocating rod and engaged over said crank pin to connect the switch rod with the rock shaft to be operated by the latter, a switch shoe carried by the switch rod, electrical connections between the coil and the current wire, a pole box positioned in the path of said electrical connections, fuses within said pole box,

means Within said pole box for protecting In testimony whereof I have signed my the fuses Within said pole box and the enername to this specification in the presence of gizing coil Within said switch box from betwo subscribing Witnesses.

ing overcharged and burned out, electrical AARON BURR ALLEN. connect-ions between said pole box and the Wtnesses:

current wire, and means for holding said J. M. CLARK,

last mentioned collections normally broken. THOMAS D. DONNELLY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. 0. 

